Consider Before Consuming

Sara Brewer is a life coach who has helped numerous individuals overcome unwanted porn consumption. Initially, Sara found that many of her clients sought help to control their excessive porn consumption, which led her to concentrate on developing a coaching program specifically designed to aid clients in overcoming porn consumption, in a way that is shame-free and sex-positive. In this episode of Consider Before Consuming, Sara highlights the role that shame plays in perpetuating the cycle of porn use, including changing how we feel about ourselves. She also explains the concept of being sex-positive and offers advice to parents on how to have open and honest conversations with their children. Sara encourages people struggling with porn to seek help and believe in the possibility of change. Fight the New Drug collaborates with a variety of qualified organizations and individuals with varying personal beliefs, affiliations, and political persuasions. As FTND is a non-religious and non-legislative organization, the personal beliefs, affiliations, and persuasions of any of our team members or of those we collaborate with do not reflect or impact the mission of Fight the New Drug. Episode Resources Article: How My Feelings of Shame Fueled My Struggle with Porn Video: Emma's Story Podcast: Consider Before Consuming Ep. 63: Dr. Debbie Akerman Sara's Website: Overcome Pornography For Good

As a young adult, Carmen’s occasional porn habit turned perpetual, which he realized when he was looking at porn even when he didn’t feel like it. As a drug and alcohol counselor, he felt like a hypocrite because he was helping others in addiction recovery while struggling with an addiction himself. Once he began recovery, he realized the importance of not letting setbacks discourage him from continuing to try, and of not being alone in his struggle. In this episode, he shares with us his story of recovering from his unwanted compulsive porn use, the significance of understanding the connection between pornography and trafficking in his continued recovery, and how he uses his story to help others. Episode Resources Article: How Porn Can Fuel Sex Trafficking Video: Carmen's Story Podcast: Consider Before Consuming, Ep.93: Chandler Rogers Carmen's Podcast: True Victory Fight the New Drug collaborates with a variety of qualified organizations and individuals with varying personal beliefs, affiliations, and political persuasions. As FTND is a non-religious and non-legislative organization, the personal beliefs, affiliations, and persuasions of any of our team members or of those we collaborate with do not reflect or impact the mission of Fight the New Drug.

Matthias J. Barker is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor who, through his engaging content about mental health, has gained a significant following on TikTok and Instagram. As his reach has grown, Matthias has worked with other experts in the field of mental health to create workshops and meets with clients in his own practice. During the episode, Matthias provides valuable insights into the potential connection between unwanted behaviors and our childhood experiences. He also shares practical tools that can help individuals overcome such behaviors, including identifying the root cause of avoidance, confiding in trusted individuals, and understanding that genuine healing is possible. You can find Matthias on TikTok, Instagram, at @matthiasjbarker or at matthiasjbarker.com. Article: What Past Issues Are You Trying to Escape From When You Watch Porn? Find Support: Relay, the #1 group-based program for overcoming pornography use Podcast: Consider Before Consuming Ep. 49: Matthias J. Barker Matthias' Podcast: Matthias J. Barker Podcast: If You're Struggling with Porn

When Madi first discovered porn at the age of 13, she was immediately consumed by shame and the belief that she was the only girl looking at pornography. The cycle of looking at porn as an escape and the feelings of shame kept her from breaking free. Once she opened up to others about the struggle she was experiencing, she was able to understand that she wasn’t alone and to connect with her true identity. In this episode, Madi shares about her experiences and how she utilizes her story to provide support to other women and girls to know they’re not alone in their struggles, and encourages parents to have open, honest conversations with their kids about the harms of porn. Fight the New Drug collaborates with a variety of qualified organizations and individuals with varying personal beliefs, affiliations, and political persuasions. As FTND is a non-religious and non-legislative organization, the personal beliefs, affiliations, and persuasions of any of our team members or of those we collaborate with do not reflect or impact the mission of Fight the New Drug. Article: Don’t think Women Struggle with Porn? Read Stories from 5 Who Have Article: Can Women Get Addicted to Watching Porn? Podcast: CBC Ep. 97: My Experience Being a Girl Addicted to Porn for 13 Years Madi's Podcast: Sisters on the Frontline

The following podcast episode contains discussions about child sexual abuse. Listener discretion is advised. When Kristi McVee became a police officer in Australia, she quickly realized how prevalent child sexual abuse was, leading her to want to teach both parents and children about cyber safety and how to protect children. Her organization, Child Abuse Prevention and Education Australia (CAPE-AU) seeks to provide an education for parents and caregivers around child sexual abuse protection and prevention. In this episode, Kristi discusses the prevalence of child abuse in the rapidly developing digital age, the impact of pornography on children, and stresses the importance of frequent conversations about digital safety between parents and children. Article: Parents—If You Don’t Teach Your Kids About Sex, Porn Sites Will Podcast: Consider Before Consuming Ep. 87: Lisa Frost Conversation Blueprint: Let's Talk About Porn Visit: Child Abuse Prevention and Education Australia (CAPE-AU) Kristi's Book: Operation KidSafe:A Detectives Guide To Abuse Prevention

This episode contains discussions of child sexual abuse and sex trafficking. Listener discretion is advised. Sage is a passionate anti-exploitation advocate whose interest in women's rights and healthcare led to her work as the Director of Impact for the Malouf Foundation and Executive Director of the Elizabeth Smart Foundation. Sage and her team engage in programs and initiatives that confront sexual exploitation through education, advocacy, prevention, recovery, and healing. In this episode, Sage joins us to discuss sex trafficking—what it is, how it happens, and what we can all do to confront it. We also discuss ways trafficking can occur that may differ from typical assumptions, for example through the camming industry. Access OnWatch training, Raise, and more at https://www.malouffoundation.org/education. Article: How You Can Spot, Prevent, And Report Human Trafficking Podcast: Consider Before Consuming Ep. 89: Elizabeth Smart Visit: The Malouf Foundation Visit: Elizabeth Smart Foundation Visit: Onwatch Training Julie Whitehead's Book: Shadowed

As humans, we have an innate desire to connect with others and form meaningful relationships. However, hundreds of studies show that porn can negatively impact our relationships, including how we see others and connect with those around us. In this episode, we hear from experts Dr. William Struthers, Dr. Jill Manning, Dr. Freda Bush, Dr. Philip Zimbardo, Dr. Jason S. Caroll, and Heidi Als Ringheim on the ways porn impacts how we see, treat, and connect with others. This episode is part of our Truth About Porn series. Truth About Porn is a current, ever-growing database dedicated to research on the harmful effects of pornography. Learn more at https://truthaboutporn.org/. Video: Philip Zimbardo, Ph.D., Truth About Porn Video: Freda Bush, M.D., FACOG, Truth About Porn Video: William Struthers, Ph.D., Truth About Porn Podcast: Consider Before Consuming Ep. 94: Jill Maning, Ph.D. Article: How Porn Can Negatively Impact Love and Intimacy

Sex trafficking shares a variety of symbiotic connections with porn.⁠ Often they’re one and the same. ⁠Even in the production of mainstream porn, sex trafficking can still occur—and it happens more often than most people think.⁠ As long as there’s a demand for porn—especially porn that is extreme, abusive, or degrading—the porn industry will continue to meet that demand. ⁠Consider before consuming, and help Stop The Demand for sex trafficking.⁠ In this episode, we hear from experts Donna M. Hughes, Valiant Richey, and Mahri Irvine, Ph.D., who share the science and connection between the porn industry and sex trafficking. This episode is part of our Truth About Porn series. Truth About Porn is a current, ever-growing database dedicated to research on the harmful effects of pornography. Learn more at https://truthaboutporn.org/ Episode resources: Video: Donna M. Hughes Interview, Truth About Porn Video: Dr. Marhi Irvine, Ph.D. Interview, Truth About Porn Video: Valiant Richey Interview, Truth About Porn Podcast: Consider Before Consuming Ep. 96: Valiant Richey Article: How Porn Can Fuel Sex Trafficking

Over the last decade, an overwhelming amount of science and research has come out on the topic of pornography and its effects on the viewer. Hundreds of studies by experts show how consuming porn develops neuropathways that can change our brains and impact people individually, including how it can be habit-forming, become an escalating behavior, change how we view others, and even impact mental health. But the good news is that we can retrain or rewire our brains to return to a healthier state! In this episode, we hear from experts Dr. Simone Kühn, Dr. Donald Hilton, and Dr. Andrew Dohm, who share the science behind porn’s impact on our brains. This episode is part of our Truth About Porn series. Truth About Porn is a current, ever-growing database dedicated to research on the harmful effects of pornography. Learn more at https://truthaboutporn.org/ Episode resources: Video: Donald Hilton, M.D. Interview, Truth About Porn Video: Simone Kühn, Ph.D. Interview, Truth About Porn Article: How Porn Can Become an Escalating Behavior Article: How Porn Can Change the Brain

This episode contains discussions of sexual abuse. Listener discretion is advised. Rachel was first exposed to pornography at seven years old and went on to develop an addiction to porn for the next thirteen years. Despite getting treatment for anxiety and depression as a young girl, she never felt like she could tell others about her struggle with porn because it was something that "girls didn't struggle with." Rachel discusses the shame she felt from being a girl struggling with porn, how being exposed to violent pornography from such a young age caused her to later be desensitized to an abusive relationship, and why she now encourages people to talk about their struggle in order to break from the shame that so often keeps them struggling. Article: Why Fighting Porn Must Include Fighting Shame Video: How I Realized I Had A Porn Problem: Myuniqe's Story Podcast: Consider Before Consuming Ep. 52: Katelyn

Valiant Richey started his career as a prosecutor, where he moved to the Special Assault Unit, handling sexual assault, child exploitation, and human trafficking cases for a decade. He now works for the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), an organization that works on security issues and human rights for 57 countries. Val is an ambassador for the organization, working with countries on how they can better combat trafficking. His extensive experience and work with so many countries give him unique insight into how consistent the patterns and functions of human trafficking are from country to country. In this episode, Valiant talks about how trafficking is fed by a demand for people willing to pay for sex. He explains how sexually explicit material further drives the demand for sexual violence and sex trafficking and the connection between how victims are treated and their abusers' use of pornography. Valiant discusses how rampant sex trafficking is and what we can do to address it on a macro level, as well as individual shifts in our perspective and attitudes towards sex buying can help decrease the demand for sex trafficking. Article: How Porn Can Fuel Sex Trafficking Video: Truth About Porn: Valiant Richey Podcast: Consider Before Consuming, Episode 90: Taina Bien-Aimé Visit: Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe

Disclaimer: Fight the New Drug collaborates with a variety of qualified organizations and individuals with varying personal beliefs, affiliations, and political persuasions. As FTND is a non-religious and non-legislative organization, the personal beliefs, affiliations, and persuasions of any of our team members or of those we collaborate with do not reflect or impact the mission of Fight the New Drug. Dr. Robert Jensen has been part of the anti-pornography movement since the 80s. Since he started, he has taught, written books and articles, and done extensive research on how society has been affected by pornography, with a particular focus on how pornography shapes men's behaviors and beliefs. Dr. Jensen explains how we're living in an age of extreme pornography, how normalized sexism and racism have become in mainstream pornography, and how it's affecting children and the way they're growing up. In this episode, Dr. Robert Jensen discusses the importance of having conversations with our kids about the harmful effects of porn, modeling healthy interactions, and start changing the conversation about pornography in our own homes and communities. Article: How the Porn Industry Capitalizes Off of Racism and Racist Stereotypes Article: Why the Goal of the Phrase "Porn Kills Love" Isn't to Shame Anyone Podcast: Consider Before Consuming Ep. 90: Taina Bien-Aimé Resource: Let's Talk About Porn Visit: Culture Reframed

When Dr. Jill Manning began her career as a therapist, she quickly realized how many people of all ages struggled with issues surrounding the use of pornography, including addiction and betrayal trauma. This led her to obtain a Ph.D. in marriage and family therapy, specializing in betrayal trauma. Dr. Jill Manning explains how betrayal trauma victims are affected by their partner's porn use and offers advice to listeners who are experiencing betrayal trauma. Article: How Avoiding Shame Can Help Partners Who are Healing From Betrayal Trauma Video: Truth About Porn: Jill Manning, Ph.D. Video: Our Experience on Porn Recovery and Betrayal Trauma Podcast: Consider Before Consuming Ep. 54: Ashlynn Mitchell Podcast: Consider Before Consuming Ep. 45: Jo Robertson Visit: Dr. Manning's Website Visit: The Association of Partners of Sex Addicts Trauma Specialists Visit: International Institute for Trauma and Addiction Professionals

After being exposed to pornography for the first time during his freshman year of high school, Chandler began struggling with pornography and realized that he wasn't able to stop using willpower alone. It wasn't until he connected with others in an in-person support group that Chandler was able to see improvements in his journey to be porn-free. In this episode, Chandler discusses how finding a support group helped him to break free from shame and stay accountable and what ultimately led him to create Relay, a virtual group-based program for overcoming pornography use. Article: Watching Porn Might Be Making You More Lonely Visit: Try Relay at ftnd.org/relay Video: What Recovering From Porn Is Like For Me

Uldouz started her acting career and quickly began to grow a following from her modeling and acting work. As she was growing in popularity, she learned that intimate, nonconsensual images and videos of her were leaked in the 2014 iCloud hack that affected hundreds of women, including many celebrities. After the leak, Uldouz battled to have the videos removed from mainstream porn websites, including Pornhub. In this episode, Uldouz discusses how being a victim of image-based sexual abuse (IBSA) has affected her life, from being bullied by her peers to brands deciding not to work with her. Uldouz says she's been able to find healing in openly discussing her image-based sexual abuse and support to other victims. Article: “Am I In Porn?”: This Tool Searches Porn Sites to See if Your Images are Used in Videos Podcast: Consider Before Consuming Ep. 88: Victoria Galy Visit: Foundation Ra and Protect America's Daughters Watch: Uldouz Wallace Testifies At Capitol Hill, Washington D.C

As the owner of a personal training company, Look Like You Lift, Braydon helps people strength train and get mentally and physically healthy, which sometimes means helping them address their addiction to pornography and begin to heal. Braydon shares his own personal story of being exposed to pornography at a young age and how it affected him throughout his adolescence, including how it affected his relationships and how he saw others. In this episode, Braydon discusses the importance of being open about your struggle with porn in order to combat shame, why he discusses the benefits of quitting porn with clients, and the conversations he's been able to start by wearing Fight the New Drug shirts to the gym. Article: 5 Things You Can Do Today Instead of Watching Porn Video: Paul’s Story: “I’m Not Discouraged and Ashamed Anymore” by My Porn Struggle Podcast: How Porn Can Affect The Brain Like A Drug Visit: Look Like You Lift

Trigger Warning: This episode contains frank discussions of sexual abuse and sex trafficking. Listener discretion is advised. Taina Bien-Aimé is the Executive Director of the Coalition Against Trafficking in Women (CATW), one of the oldest international organizations dedicated to ending trafficking in women and girls and commercial sexual exploitation as practices of gender-based violence and discrimination. Speaking from 30 years of experience in women's rights and equality, Taina discusses how the rise of online pornography has affected sex trafficking and sexual exploitation. Taina draws the links between pornography and gender-based violence, how the majority of sex buyers are men, and how porn teaches girls to be submissive and boys to exert power over girls. Taina helps us understand the increase of online sexual exploitation and what we can do to end it. Article: How Mainstream Porn Normalizes Violence Against Black Women Video: Truth About Porn, Taina Bien-Aimé Visit: The Coalition Against Trafficking in Women Visit: Equality Now Podcast: Get The Facts: How Porn Can Promote Sexual Violence

We sat down with Alex and Candice, a couple whose marriage was brought to the brink due to Alex’s consumption of pornography. Over the course of five years, they struggled together as Alex tried to find recovery from what can best be described as an “addiction” and Candice suffered from betrayal trauma and body image issues. After much pain, therapy, and setbacks, Alex is well on the road to recovery and Candice is finding new strength in sharing their experiences with the world. Episode 70: Candice Diaz Episode 71: Alex Diaz Fight the New Drug YouTube Channel To learn more about the harms of pornography on consumers, relationships, and its larger societal impacts, visit FTND.org. To support this podcast, click here. As you go about your day we invite you to increase your self-awareness, look both ways, check your blindspots, and consider before consuming. Fight the New Drug collaborates with a variety of qualified organizations and individuals with varying personal beliefs, affiliations, and political persuasions. As FTND is a non-religious and non-legislative organization, the personal beliefs, affiliations, and persuasions of any of our team members or of those we collaborate with do not reflect or impact the mission of Fight the New Drug.

The following podcast episode contains discussions of child sexual abuse and sex trafficking. Listener discretion is advised. The abduction of Elizabeth Smart was one of the most followed child abduction cases of our time. Elizabeth was 14 years old when she was abducted from her home on June 5, 2002, and endured daily sexual assault, starvation, and abuse for 9 grueling months. Fortunately, due in large part to help from active bystanders, the police safely returned Elizabeth back to her family on March 12, 2003. Now a mother of three, Elizabeth discusses her work at the Elizabeth Smart Foundation to bring hope to sexual assault through education, healing, and advocacy. Elizabeth discusses the role active bystanders had in her rescue, how pornography aided in her grooming and abuse, and the importance of having open and honest conversations with your children about the dangers online. Article: 9 Surprising Facts About Human Trafficking in the U.S. Video: Elizabeth Smart Speaks For The First Time About Pornography's Role In Her Abduction Visit Elizabeth Smart Foundation Visit OnWatch Visit Smart Defense

This episode discusses explicit sexual behaviors and abuse that may be triggering to some. Listener discretion is advised. Victoria started online dating after her divorce. That's where she first met Brandon. In the beginning, Brandon was saying and doing all the right things to make Victoria believe this was a man that respected and loved her. Years into their relationship, however, Victoria discovered that footage that Brandon took of her without her knowledge and consent had been uploaded onto Pornhub. Even after the arduous journey to get the footage removed from Pornhub, those videos continue to pop up all over the internet. Victoria talks with Fight the New Drug about her experience fighting Pornhub to get her nonconsensual videos removed, the trauma that followed after her image-based abuse, and what she's doing now to advocate for herself and other victims who have found themselves in similar situations. Disclaimer: Fight the New Drug is a non-religious and non-legislative awareness and education organization. Some of the issues discussed in the episode are legislatively-affiliated. Though our organization is non-legislative, we fully support the regulation of already illegal forms of pornography and sexual exploitation, including the fight against sex trafficking.